Case Studies How PetSmart Optimized Store Operations Through Superior Supply Chain Visibility

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	How PetSmart Optimized Store Operations Through Superior Supply Chain Visibility

How PetSmart Optimized Store Operations Through Superior Supply Chain Visibility

Technology Category	Analytics & Modeling - Predictive Analytics Functional Applications - Remote Monitoring & Control Systems Networks & Connectivity - Network Management & Analysis Software
Applicable Industries	Retail
Applicable Functions	Logistics & Transportation Warehouse & Inventory Management
Use Cases	Fleet Management Predictive Maintenance Supply Chain Visibility
Services	Software Design & Engineering Services System Integration
Challenge	PetSmart faced significant challenges with late and early deliveries, which disrupted store operations and increased labor costs across its 1,650 stores in the U.S. and Canada. With over 180,000 shipments annually, these disruptions led to unnecessary communication loops between store associates, carriers, and company headquarters. This situation strained customer-facing personnel and reduced overall productivity. PetSmart needed a solution to bring greater visibility to its deliveries in transit, identify the causes of disruptions, and minimize their impact on staff productivity. Read More
About Customer	PetSmart, Inc. is the largest specialty pet retailer of services and solutions for the lifetime needs of pets. The company operates more than 1,650 pet stores in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico, and employs approximately 56,000 associates. PetSmart offers a broad range of competitively priced pet food and products, as well as services such as dog training, pet grooming, pet boarding, and pet adoption. The retailer works with over 3,500 animal welfare organizations to facilitate pet adoptions and has facilitated more than 9 million adoptions. In May 2017, PetSmart acquired Chewy.com, a leading online retailer of pet food and products in the U.S. Read More
Solution	In early 2019, PetSmart selected FourKites to provide freight visibility as a competitive advantage for its supply chain. By partnering with FourKites, PetSmart was able to track the locations of North American shipments by truckload, less-than-truckload, ocean, and rail. Within six months, PetSmart had nearly completed integration, tracking more than 95% of its outbound carriers with over 80% consistency. The company also developed a customized alert system with FourKites' engineering team to automatically notify store managers and associates of incoming deliveries and delays. This system provided ETA updates at regular intervals, starting six hours out from a delivery arrival to one hour before the truck arrives. Read More Log in to view content
Contents

Technology Category

Analytics & Modeling - Predictive Analytics

Functional Applications - Remote Monitoring & Control Systems

Networks & Connectivity - Network Management & Analysis Software

Applicable Industries

Retail

Applicable Functions

Logistics & Transportation

Warehouse & Inventory Management

Use Cases

Fleet Management

Predictive Maintenance

Supply Chain Visibility

Services

Software Design & Engineering Services

System Integration

Challenge

PetSmart faced significant challenges with late and early deliveries, which disrupted store operations and increased labor costs across its 1,650 stores in the U.S. and Canada. With over 180,000 shipments annually, these disruptions led to unnecessary communication loops between store associates, carriers, and company headquarters. This situation strained customer-facing personnel and reduced overall productivity. PetSmart needed a solution to bring greater visibility to its deliveries in transit, identify the causes of disruptions, and minimize their impact on staff productivity.

About Customer

PetSmart, Inc. is the largest specialty pet retailer of services and solutions for the lifetime needs of pets. The company operates more than 1,650 pet stores in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico, and employs approximately 56,000 associates. PetSmart offers a broad range of competitively priced pet food and products, as well as services such as dog training, pet grooming, pet boarding, and pet adoption. The retailer works with over 3,500 animal welfare organizations to facilitate pet adoptions and has facilitated more than 9 million adoptions. In May 2017, PetSmart acquired Chewy.com, a leading online retailer of pet food and products in the U.S.

Solution

In early 2019, PetSmart selected FourKites to provide freight visibility as a competitive advantage for its supply chain. By partnering with FourKites, PetSmart was able to track the locations of North American shipments by truckload, less-than-truckload, ocean, and rail. Within six months, PetSmart had nearly completed integration, tracking more than 95% of its outbound carriers with over 80% consistency. The company also developed a customized alert system with FourKites' engineering team to automatically notify store managers and associates of incoming deliveries and delays. This system provided ETA updates at regular intervals, starting six hours out from a delivery arrival to one hour before the truck arrives.

Impact #1	PetSmart was able to minimize the time store associates dedicated to behind-the-scenes tasks, such as receiving deliveries, unloading goods, and coordinating shipments.
Impact #2	Real-time visibility into store deliveries allowed PetSmart Store Operations to allocate resources more effectively and reduce the need for a call center to field questions about truck ETAs.
Impact #3	PetSmart's team was highly engaged with the FourKites platform, promoting usage and fostering accountability through weekly dashboard data communication to internal and external partners.

Impact #1

PetSmart was able to minimize the time store associates dedicated to behind-the-scenes tasks, such as receiving deliveries, unloading goods, and coordinating shipments.

Impact #2

Real-time visibility into store deliveries allowed PetSmart Store Operations to allocate resources more effectively and reduce the need for a call center to field questions about truck ETAs.

Impact #3

PetSmart's team was highly engaged with the FourKites platform, promoting usage and fostering accountability through weekly dashboard data communication to internal and external partners.

Benefit #1	PetSmart tracked more than 95% of its outbound carriers.
Benefit #2	The company achieved 83% tracking consistency within a year.
Benefit #3	PetSmart handles over 180,000 shipments annually.

Benefit #1

PetSmart tracked more than 95% of its outbound carriers.

Benefit #2

The company achieved 83% tracking consistency within a year.

Benefit #3

PetSmart handles over 180,000 shipments annually.

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Overview

How PetSmart Optimized Store Operations Through Superior Supply Chain Visibility

Operational Impact

Quantitative Benefit